Sanseru / Sanseiru
Goju Ryu Karate Kata

This kata sometimes comes under the name Sanseiru, but both versions are acceptable and mean the same thing: 36 hands. Supposedly this has Buddhist significance, as have all kata with a number of moves related to the figure 108. I have put forward an argument that the origins of this numerology stretch back further in time and pre-exist Buddhism, being in fact related to the precessional number 72 (which in turn influenced Buddhism). Check out other articles on Nijushiho (24) and Gojushiho Dai (54). Sanseru is also known informally as the Dragon form.

The kata - and here I reject orthodox opinion that Kanryo Higaonna brought all the Goju ryu kata back from China save Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai Dai Ni and Tensho - is believed to have been one of the original four first introduced by Kanryo Higaonna and learned from his teacher Ryu Ryu Ko. That said, it is debatable as to whether or not Morio Higaonna himself learned the kata directly from Master Higaonna. The reason for this is that Miyagi's senior, Juhatsu Kyoda, learned a variation of the form directly from Master Higaonna while Master Miyagi was away from Okinawa on military service. Kyoda's version and Miyagi's version are quite different and that suggests a different teacher. It is possible that Master Miyagi learned the kata from a Chinese practitioner directly while in Fuzhou in 1915.

The kata is highly asymmetrical, especially with the several kicking techniques covered, and the practitioner may like to learn to perform the kata with both sides of his body.